Cutter-loaders for mining minerals



May 28, 1963 w. GlLLESPlE CUTTER-LOADERS FOR MINING MINERALS 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Nov. 29, 1960 w W [M A 6/ f M m m Qmw kw RN %w %m MWN Q I? A k Q m d @w y WW mm mm SQ mmmhm @WQ 1. I I \N\ i I sw mw @w kw NW .mmw aw IQ WM May 28, 1963 w. GILLESPIE CUTTER-LOADERS FOR MINING MINERALS 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Nov. 29, 1960 Inventor 71 41/444 @ZAEFfl/E By I M S W gag Attorneys May 28, 1963 w. GILLESPIE 3,091,440

CUTTER-LOADERS FOR MINING MINERALS Filed Nov. 29, 1960 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 I nventor W/L L MM 6/44 ESP/E 3,091,440 CUTTER-LOADERS FOR MINING MINERALS William Gillespie, Glasgow, Scotland, assignor to Mavor 8; Coulson Limited, Glasgow, Scotland Filed Nov. 29, 1960, S81. No. 72,369 4 Claims. (Cl. 262-30) This invention relates to cutter-loaders of the type in which the work of cutting from a mineral seam is done by endless chains equipped with cutting tools driven to travel in endless paths around supporting jibs.

Although these machines are known as coal cutterloaders, seeing that they are designed and used primarily for mining coal, nevertheless they can be used for mining other minerals.

The invention i v especially, although not exclusively, applicable to machines for working on thin seams.

The object of the invention is to provide an improved machine which works along the face of a seam disintegrating the face from floor to roof and delivering the cut-down mineral alongside the machine.

According to the invention, a cutter-loader of the type stated comprises, in the order stated from front to rear, a leading jib at about mine floor level for a cutter-chain to under-cut the mineral seam, a transverse conveyor also at about floor level for the mineral and gummings left behind said jib following the work of said cutter-chain, and an assembly of superposed jibs for a transverse loader chain at about floor level and for one or more cutterchains reaching nearly to mine roof level, the loader chain being driven to discharge inwards towards and beyond the machine the mineral cut down by the one or more cutterchains above.

It will be apparent that the conveyor and loader act in an intermediate zone extending forwards from the superposed jib-s to the active stretch of the cutter chain of the leading jib.

The transverse conveyor is of the helical-worm gummer type in which the Worm rotates within a casing and conveys gummings and small mineral matter across and beyond the machine.

Desirably, the loader is of the class in which flights are attached to an endless chain that is driven to travel in an endless path, the loader chain and the cutter-chains above being driven in unison by interconnected sprocket wheels.

An example of a coal cutter-loader according to the invention is shown in the accompanying drawings, which are diagrammatic and in which:

FIG. 1 is a side view, FIG. 2 is a plan of the cutterloader, FIG. 3 is a plan of the cutter-loader with some parts thereof displayed in an alternative disposition, and FIG. 4 is a detailed view of the gummer drive forming part of the cutter-loader.

In the example, the cutter-loader comprises two bodies and 11 which are made as separate and complete entities and which are jointed end to end. The joint comprises a horizontal-axis hinge 12. Thus, each body can tilt up and down relatively to the other. The components of the machine are shown so arranged, that, when the machine is set to work, the body 10* will lead and the body 11 will be trailed.

Each body, at its outer end, has a haulage gear Each body also includes an electric or other motor 21, which drives the associated outer haulage gear 20 and the mechanism of an inner gear head, which is indicated by 22 in the body 10 and by 23 in the body 11. The drive to each haulage gear comprises a train of speedreduction gearing consisting of a pinion 26A on the motor shaft, a gearwheel 26B meshing with pinion 26A, a worm and wormWheel 26C, 26]), another pair of gearwheels 26E, 26F, yet another pair 26G, 261-1 and lastly 7 nited Stats atent a pinion 26] engaging an internally toothed wheel 26K which is incorporated in the customary haulage drum. The mechanism of the inner gear head 22 of the body 10 includes a train of speed-reduction gearing consisting of a pair of gearwheels 27A, 27B and a pair of bevel gearwheels 27C, 27D. Correspondingly, the mechanism of the inner gear head 23 of the body 11 includes a speed-reduction train consisting of a pair of gearwheels 28A, 28B and a pair of bevel gearwheels 28C, 28D. In both of said mechanisms the gearwheel-s 27A and 28A are pinions on the shafts of the respective motors 21.

A jib 30 is connected to the body 10 at floor level, being adapted to be slewed through 18(l about a vertical axle 31 in the gear head 22 and being adapted for work at either side of the body. To effect slewing, the two bodies 10 and 11 are temporarily detached. The jib 30 supports an endless cutter-chain 32 which is driven by a sprocket wheel 33 arranged on said vertical axle 31 and in the gear head 22.

At the rear end of the leading body 10* there is arranged a so-called gummer having a helical worm feed auger 62. This gummer includes a part-cylindrical casing 35, which is a fixture on the body 10, and an internal worm or screw 61 which is rotatable about its axis by a speed-reduction gear assembly 36 connecting it to the adjoining gear head 22. This gummer extends transversely behind the body 10' to the inner side 3-7 thereof, namely the side remote from the face 38 of the seam.

The other of the jointed bodies, namely the rear body 11, has a loader jib 40, which projects at floor level from the associated gear head 23. This jib 40 extends from a vertical axle 41 that is driven from the gearing 28A28B in the associated gear head. The jib can be slewed through about the axis of this axle while the bodies 10 and 11 are temporarily detached. The axle 41 has a chain-driving sprocket wheel 42. An endless chain 43 of coal-loading flights is guided round the jib 40,.the chain meshing with the sprocket wheel 42 in the head and driving another sprocket wheel 44- at the jib end. These flights are as usual paddle-like plates which are connected to the links of the chain and which project from the chain at about right angles. The flights may if desired be of so-called feathering kind; that is to say, the flights project at about right-angles where they work in straight paths along the front and rear of the jib on the coal to be loaded but when passing round the semi-circular paths underneath the body 11 and at the jib end they are pivoted, each about the vertical axis of its connection into an oblique setting. -It will be apparent that this loader jib 40 extends co-planar, at floor level, with the leading jib 30.

The loader jib serves also as a base structure to carry a number of short cutter-chain jibs directly above. In the example, there are two such jibs, namely a roofcutter jib 50 and an intermediate jib 51 at a level somewhat higher than that :of the leading jib 30. Each of the two jibs 50 and 51 is a guide frame which at its outer end has a sprocket wheel 52 that is mounted on a splined or equivalent axle 53 extending vertically upwards from the sprocket wheel 44 at the loader jib end, so that all of these wheel's rotate in unison when the machine is in operation. Cutter chains 55 and 56 are guided in endless paths around the ro-of-cutter jib and intermediate jib, respectively, these chains being in mesh with the upper sprocket wheels at the outer ends of their jib-s and being driven by them. These cutter chains are guided round semi-circular paths at the inner ends of their jibs in proximity to the body 11.

If desired, the roof-cutter jib 50 may be carried by means such that the jib can be adjusted up and down to suit the mine roof level. Such carrying means may consist of a jack, which is hydraulic, and appropriate vertical guides, the jack being conveniently operable by a worker during the progress of the machine along the coal face.

As is customary, provision is made for extending and contracting the several jibs in order to regulate the tension of the several chains.

In operation of the machine, the several cutter end loader chains 30, 43, 55, 56 are driven so that their active leading stretches travel and Work inwards from the face as indicated by the arrows A and B in FIG. 2. Accordingly, as the machine is hauled along the face 38, the several cutter and loader chains all act to pull the machine towards the face, so that it is held up to its work. More over, the active leading stretches of the cutter chains serve to convey much of the coal cut by them inwards towards the machine and beyond it upon the mine floor for removal by any appropriate means. Much of the coal cut by the cutter chain 32 of the leading jib 34 is removed beyond the leading body by the cutter chain I 32 and the gummer 35 thus leaving the loader 43, which is of high capacity, to deal with the coal cut down by the rear cutter-chains 55, 56. It will be noted that the coal is removed mainly in the intermediate zone behind the active stretch of the cutter chain 3 2 of the leading jib 30 and in front of the active stretches of the chains 55, 56 of the rear jibs, 50, 51, this zone being of ample size for the purpose.

If desired, the rear jibs 40, 50, 51, may be set forwards at an acute angle to the longitudinal central line of the bodies 10, 11, and therefore to the face 38, so that the active stretches of the chains 55, 56 incline forwards and outwards from the body 11. This setting is illustrated in FIG. 3. Such a setting of these chains causes them to exercise a wedging effect on the seam 38 tending to burst the coal from it in large pieces.

An advantage of the mining machine according to the invention is that it can be designed to have approximate equalisation of work between the motors 21 of the front and rear units 10 and 11. As will be apparent, in a mining machine having cutter means which leads and having additional cutting mean-s behind, the leading cutting means is confronted with the heavy task of working into the solid seam 38, whereas the following cuttingmeans has the lighter task of cutting out a buttock which is freed from the original compression between the mine roof and floor. In the present machine, accordingly, the coal cutting work of the leading body It has been minimised by providing it with a single cutter-chain jib, so that the motor 21 of this unit drives the leading haulage gear the leading cutter chain 32 and the gurnmer 35. On the other hand, the rear unit is provided with jibs having at least the two cutter chains 55, 56 and the loader chain 43. Accordingly, the cutting and loading means with which the rear unit 11 is provided deal with considerably more coal than the leading unit '10. This extra coal-handling work is permissible because the rear motor takes no part in the work of haulage, the rear haulage gear 20 being idle while the machine is at work, and each of the rear cutter chains 55', 56

has a lighter task than the single leading cutter-chain 32.

In the example, the machine is double ended. That is tosay, the bodies 10 and 11 are made similar to one another and the cutting, conveying and loading components are transferable from one body to the other, so that the cutter and loader-jibs can beinter-changed and the 4 gumrner 35, 36 re-arranged so that the machine is set for the body 11 to lead and the body 10 to be trailed. Thus, the machine is devised to perform its working operation first in one direction, next in the opposite direction and so on.

I claim:

1. A cutter-loader of the type in which the work of cutting from a mineral seam is done by endless chains equipped with cutting tools driven to travel in endless paths around supporting jibs, the cutter-loader comprising, in the order stated from front to rear, a single leading jib at about mine floor level for a cutter-chain to under-cut the mineral seam, a transverse conveyor also at about floor level for the mineral and gnmmings left behind said jib following the work of said cutter-chain, said conveyor being of the helical-worm gummer type in which the worm rotates within a casing and conveys gnmmings and small mineral matter across and beyond the machine, and a trailing assembly of superposed jibs for a transverse loader chain at about floor level and for one or more cutter-chains reaching from above said loader chain nearly to mine roof level, the loader chain being driven to discharge inwards towards and beyond the machine the mineral cut down by the one or more cutterchains above.

2. A cutter-loader according to claim 1 in which the loader chain comprises an endless series of interconnected flights driven to travel in an endless path, the loader chain and the one or more cutter-chains above being driven in unison by inter-connected sprocket wheels.

3. A cutter-loader of the type in which the work of cutting from a mineral seam is done by endless chains equipped with cutting tools driven to travel in endless paths around supporting jibs, the cutter-loader comprising two inter-connected bodies one of which leads and the other of which is trailed, a haulage gear at the leading end body behind said jib, power means on said leading body for driving said haulage gear, cutter-chain and conveyor, an assembly of superposed jibs on the trailed body for a transverse loader chain at about floor level and one or more jibs for one or more cutter-chains reaching nearly to mine roof level and power means on the trailing body for operating the cutter and loader chains so that the active stretches of these chains are driven inwards to the trailing body and the mineral cut down by the one or more cutter-chains above is discharged beyond the trailing body.

4. A cutter-loader according to claim 3 in which the trailing body has a haulage gear at its rear end drivable by the power means on this body and in which the two bodies are made similarly, and their cutting, conveying and loading components are transferable from one body to the other so that the machine can be set to operate in either direction.

References Cited in the file of this patent FOREIGN PATENTS 

1. A CUTTER-LOADER OF THE TYPE IN WHICH THE WORK OF CUTTING FROM A MINERAL SEAM IS DONE BY ENDLESS CHAINS EQUIPPED WITH CUTTING TOOLS DRIVEN TO TRAVEL IN ENDLESS PATHS AROUND SUPPORTING JIBS, THE CUTTER-LOADER COMPRISING, IN THE ORDER STATED FROM FRONT TO REAR, A SINGLE LEADING JIB AT ABOUT MINE LEVEL FOR A CUTTER-CHAIN TO UNDER-CUT THE TERMINAL SEAM, A TRANSVERSE CONVEYOR ALSO AT ABOUT FLOOR LEVEL FOR THE MINERAL AND GUMMINGS LEFT BEHIND SAID JIB FOLLOWING THE WORK OF SAID CUTTER-CHAIN, SAID CONVEYOR BEING OF THE HELICAL-WORM GUMMER TYPE IN WHICH THE WORM ROTATES WITHIN A CASING AND CONVEYS GUMMINGS AND SMALL MINERAL MATTER ACROSS AND BEYOND THE MACHINE, AND A TRAILING ASSEMBLY OF SUPERPOSED JIBS FOR A TRANSVERSE LOADER CHAIN AT ABOUT FLOOR LEVEL AND FOR ONE OR MORE CUTTER-CHAINS REACHING FROM ABOVE SAID LOADER CHAIN NEARLY TO MINE ROOF LEVEL, THE LOADER CHAIN BEING DRIVEN TO DISCHARGE INWARDS TOWARDS AND BEYOND THE MACHINE THE MINERAL CUT DOWN BY ONE OR MORE CUTTERCHAINS ABOVE. 